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 The group American Atheists has placed this billboard in New York City's Times Square.
December 21st, 2013
10:22 AM ET
Why atheists should quit the 'War on Christmas’Opinion by Chris Stedman, special to CNN
In recent years, one organization, American Atheists, has claimed the mantle of prime atheist promoter of the tired “War on Christmas” narrative. This year, they ushered in the season with an electronic billboard in New York City’s Times Square carrying the message: “Who needs Christ during Christmas? Nobody.” The word "Christ" is crossed out, just in case their message wasn't clear enough. The American Atheists maintain that their latest entry in the annual “War on Christmas” saga is a message to other atheists that they are not alone. In a recent Fox News appearance, American Atheists President Dave Silverman said, “The point that we’re trying to make is that there’s a whole bunch of people out there for whom religion is the worst part of Christmas, but they go to church anyways, and we’re here to tell them they don’t have to.” While that intention is important and admirable, very few people—atheist or theist—seem to interpret the message as welcoming to anyone. Many of the responses I’ve seen have been vitriolic and disturbingly anti-atheist. Which raises the question: If the goal truly is to reach isolated atheists, why does the advertisement read as a dig at Christians? A better billboard for American Atheists’s stated aim might read: “Don’t celebrate Christmas? You’re not alone.” As atheists become more visible in our society, the entire “War on Christmas” back-and-forth feels ugly and unnecessary. Worse still, it seems to do little more than offer ammunition to those claiming atheists are just mean-spirited grinches. Bill O’Reilly—one of the major “War on Christmas” soldiers—made that clear when he and I discussed the “War on Christmas” a couple of weeks ago. Let’s not kid ourselves: There is no war on Christmas. We live in a culture that privileges stories of conflict, so it’s understandable that this narrative would gain traction—with or without billboards. Much of this narrative is a manifestation of religious fears about our increasingly secular society, and it reflects widespread anxieties about atheists and religious differences. But it doesn’t reflect reality. Rather, as religious diversity in the U.S. has become more recognizable, Americans have largely broadened their approach to this time of year. According to new data from the Public Religion Research Institute, the percentage of Americans who prefer the inclusive “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” has now exceeded the percentage that prefers “Merry Christmas.” It’s not that Christmas is under attack; instead, our society is becoming better at embracing its religious diversity and challenging the notion that a single majority religion should dominate public expressions of belief. So why does the “War on Christmas” narrative persist? Based on how much play they give it each December, the “War on Christmas” narrative seems to be good for Fox News ratings. And American Atheists has openly admitted that it is good for their pocketbooks, as their talk show appearances bring in a swell of donations. Consider this from a recent profile of Silverman: “Silverman’s notorious anti-Christmas billboards and subsequent TV appearances have breathed new life into American Atheists and are often followed by an uptick in subscribers and donations. ... According to Silverman, the primary objective of the billboards is to get invitations to talk shows.” In other words: American Atheists and Fox News - alongside conservatives like Sarah Palin - seem to have discovered a mutually beneficial relationship. But does this relationship benefit atheists more broadly? Does it accurately represent the sentiments of nontheists in this country? Does it improve atheist-theist relations? Does it lessen the widespread stigma and distrust that exists between atheists and theists, which enables atheist marginalization across the U.S.? Does it invite Christians to think critically about religious privilege? Many atheists, myself included, suspect that there are more effective approaches to tackling these important issues. To start, atheists can build positive relationships with believers to humanize our communities and educate one another about our differences. That’s something that billboards, for all of their flash and fundraising capabilities, likely won’t accomplish. Atheists face real marginalization in the U.S., and it should be robustly challenged. But we also have good tidings and great joy to offer—important contributions to the public square that are currently being drowned out by attention-grabbing billboards claiming “nobody” needs Christ in Christmas. In the spirit of generosity, compassion, and kindness so often associated with this time of year, let’s ditch the billboards and build relationships of goodwill. Chris Stedman is the Assistant Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University, Coordinator of Humanist Life for the Yale Humanist Community, and author of "Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious." You can follow him on Twitter at @ChrisDStedman. The views expressed in this column belong to Stedman. soundoff (5,210 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Next »
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(CNN) - The “War on Christmas:” what — or who—is it good for?
Christmas hasn't been a 'christian' holiday in a long time.
I agree – it's commercial. I say fine, since that means it's less religious and more secular.
I don't believe in Atheist.
Wow...and yet I can see atheists all around, but no god and a mass of Christians who live their daily lives as if their god did not exist...Bravo to you, MrZ
Is that a specific atheist or are you just unaware that the plural of atheist is "atheists"?
I missed that...nice catch. Dippy doesn't have a thing on you, tallulah!
Luckily, your belief is not required. Evidence for atheists–heck, several of them in fact–abounds.
Ok – Athiest don't believe in you.
I have the right to not like or agree with atheists attacking the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And let's be honest here, that is what they are doing in writing Christ, then crossing out his name. Jesus Christ's birth, is what was associated with the word Christmas. Look it up. They did not cross out Christmas, just Christ, and then said nobody needs him. They're ignoring one third of the planet's population that admits they both love and need Jesus Christ. Count me as one that loves and needs him.
Good enough....but why do you care if someone comes along and takes Christ out of Christmas...are you that immature in your faith that it is somehow a threat?
Jesus Christ's name should be glorified, not crossed out. Everything Jesus Christ of Nazareth said as recorded in the New Testament is truth, he is the Son of God, just as the witnesses said. No one can change my mind about this, and only God could have brought me to this conclusion, just by what he said in the bible. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is God, and he sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ of Nazareth to die for the sins of others, that repent, believe him, and do the will of God. Jesus Christ of Nazareth rose again the third day after being in the hands of sinful men. The Gospells are the truth, Jesus is the Son of God.
You speak with a certainty that is your own and doesn't belong to others...say your peace (Matthew 28) and then obey Matthew 25:31ff and Luke 6:27 and let everyone else exercise their free will.
A m e n !! Don't worry guys we'll keep praying for you.
Hearties don't waste your time with this bunch of haters, just keep them in your prayers.
You also duck and run when someone asks you a direct question. So stuff it, Christian troll. I have the right to say that, too.
About the only thing Christian in Christmas is maybe the manger scene. Everything else has been borrowed from other religions and myths.
You've been pounding this drum on every article I've seen. Go get a manicure and an enema and talk about it later.
Without belief in a higher power, too much blame is absorbed for negative outcomes, just as too much credit is taken for positive results. It matters little what label it's given, but peace of mind can be derived from accepting some serendipity and some misfortune in life as simply beyond our ken.
A good stupor, Dave
This manufactured "war on Christmas" is just like the recent Duck Dynasty controversy. Both sides get attention and possibly contributions or invitations to appear on talk shows, which leads to new TV roles etc.
America is less religious in 2013 than it was in 1913. Then Episcopalians did not usually marry Baptists because they came from different belief systems. Forget about marrying a Catholic or a Jew. Non-believers (which I think covers more than just atheists) were marginalized in the military, corporate America and in society in general.
I am going to guess than in 1913 there were very few Muslims or Hindus in America. Nowadays we are more diverse, like it or not. But the big advantage of Christmas is that it does encompass almost everybody. You can go the "baby Jesus in the manger" route or the "up on the rooftop, ho, ho, ho" route. Who doesn't like brightly colored lights, presents and parties during frigid December? Many Christmas celebrants, even with trees, gifts and fortified egg nog, do not go to church on Christmas. I can't think of any Jewish, Hindu or Muslim holiday that brings outsiders into it like this. Thats why Christmas ain't going anywhere. Nice try Mr Silverman, now go away.
Agreed, but Silverman has had enough death threats and rudeness shown to him by the Christians for the past several decades. Now, he's a little bitter and behind the game in the rhetoric department.
Greg, you're missing the point. No one wants Christmas to go away. I am an atheist and I love Christmas; getting together with family and friends and exchanging presents and good times. American Atheists doesn't want to take Christmas out of America, it wants to take Christ out of Christmas, or more to the point religion, which should not upset many considering Christmas doesn't seem to be abut Christ or religion anymore, if it ever was, it's about money and sales receipts.
1913, birthday parties, Hhhhmmmm. Oh yeah, that's it.
Volcker, Greenspan, and Bernanke Unite for Fed's 100th Birthday
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-17/volcker-greenspan-bernanke-unite-for-feds-100th-birthday
What wunnerful helpful people that have made the dollar magically and mystically disappear and now it's worth about 2 cents.
Where's the billboard knocking Wiccans? "Who needs winter during the Winter Solstice"? They have a right not to believe in a higher power, but if they don't – I don't understand their compulsion to dissuade others from their religion.
Christians try to dissuade everyone else from their beliefs, so why is it such a shock to them when others do to them what they themselves have long done?
Wiccans are burned or drowned...no billboard needed.
You burn them, but first you must ensure that they weigh the same as a duck, which of course means they are made of wood and float. Then you can burn them.
Sometimes they turn you into a newt, but you'll get better.
Eye of newt, please...or eye of Newt Gingrich...
That billboard is up in a town where the population is 86% Wiccan. You know where that is, right?
What words can you say to a person who is lost and is being led by satan ?Unless you repent and turns toward Jesus you will die in your sins and on your judgement day what excuse will you give? None because you type this anti Jesus message on line. One day it will soon be over and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord
Jesus wants everyone to grovel and shivel and tell him how great he is. Yeah, that's not petty and self-absorbed or anything.
Sorry, Tim...most Atheists come from a strong Christian family/background and have been Bible-believing Christians. Try reading a few more books than the apologetic texts on your bookshelf...
TIMOTHY,
"every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord"
That sounds much more like something that your "Satan" character would want.
I had a feeling there wasn't such a thing as Free Will...my aching knee and tongue confessional will prove it!
The first thing you to, TIMOTHY, is provide evidence that your god exists and that the bible is his word. Then you prove that your personal interpretation of the bible is the correct version. Because until you do those things, all you have empty threats and unwelcome proselytization.
"what excuse will you give?"
Sorry, but I couldn't believe in, let alone worship, a deity that first drowned children and infants (Gen 7:21-23), and then demanded their brutal slaughter (e.g. Deut. 13:15, 1 Sam 15:3, etc). I appreciate that Christians can overlook this, but for some reason, I find it just plain morally repugnant . . .
To a certain extent, I feel like atheists who embrace the "war on Christmas" are really just giving back what Bill O'Reilly and Fox News wants. I don't think I have ever encountered a person who was literally offended by "Merry Christmas". Most everyone accepts it with either a "You too", or simple "Thank You". However, I have heard many a Christian make a very vocal point about how it has to be "Merry Christmas" or nothing.
Perhaps atheists can be seen as waging a war on Christmas when they ask government officials to not display nativity scenes in public parks or government buildings. But that has much more to do with the First Amendment establishment clause which protects against a government establishment of religion. I have no problem with the nativity scene displayed on the lawn of my dentist office. I just drive by and ignore it.
Christians know that when there isn't massive social norms to believe as the do, that people will see their beliefs as ridiculous, just like if someone was telling his neighbors about how Zeus and the Greek Gods were real. Everyone is atheists when it comes to all the other God but theirs, Zeus, Ra, Hindu Gods, etc. Atheists just take it one God further.
Straight from Richard Dawkins... Not a fan of his contradictions and Strawmans.
The plural of "man" is not "mans."
Can you please provide a contradiction that Mr. Dawkins has made for us? I await your response.
An idea is good or bad on its own merit. Other people have pointed out that truth before Dawkins, and it is a valid argument in its own right. Dawkins was smart to highlight the logic whether he considered it somewhat original or not at all.
Please point out some of his contradictions and straw men.
God exist even before the big bang,At the start of the conversion of energy to matter 13.7 billion years ago,that was the beggining of the anthropic universe,when God decided to manifist hi
And this statement is based on.....?
Those atheists are just adding extra coals which will be dumped on their heads in eternal hell!
That's actually quite funny.
Of course, you would need a body to feel heat, so apparently Hell is this firey place that doesn't hurt because you have no way to feel it. So it's just a cool light show.
You on the other hand have to spend the rest of eternity telling Jesus how wonderful he is, nonstop, 24/7, forever, nothing else. Have fun with that.
Whoever can up with that attempt to intimidate people into obedience wasn't much on the logic or details.
Have you read Mark Twain's "Letters from the Earth"? It was published 50 years after his death, and for good reason. It's available to read online.
Anyways he examines the absurdity that is the Christian Heaven in a pretty critical way, and wonders why it isn't the real Hell.
Simon, why are you so ignorant of your own scripture? Take another look at Proverbs 25:21-22 and Romans 12:20...instead, you want to burn the heads of thinking atheists...Keep it up, son...you are a poster-child for abandoning the faith.
I do hope they use clean-coal in Hell.
God rewards them for heaping burning coals on peoples' heads? Ooooooo, good guy, definitely the kind of guy I admire.
The pinnacle of human (and divine) morality...with friends like him we need no satans.
And by being nice to non-believers, Christians are actually torturing them. So when they are actling like they are nice, they are really being cruel. So charity towards non-Christians is actually sadism.
So the mean Christians are mean on the surface and the "nice"one are mean underneath.
Okay then.
Alan Watts said it best when he wondered how you can "command" someone to love another.
Fortunately for us we don't believe in your hell, so your attempt at hatred is quite easily dismissed.
Hallmark Cards, Coca-Cola and the Saturday Evening Post stole holiday ideas from the Pagans, Greek, Romans and Celts and used them to sell Christmas to everyone!!!!
Make them give it all back to the imaginary Pagans, Greeks, Romans and Celts who decorated Christmas trees and baked cookies for their neighbors.
Seriously. Why take Christmas from kids?? They still believe in the myth and the bible thing teaches them good morals. Other than that, Christmas is just a shell of what it used to be....kind of like Halloween. It's a holiday, kids get presents, people do good things for others.... and that's just about it. It's a good day to just be nice.
Actually, parents themselves will take a chunk of Christmas away from kids when they eventually have to admit that they lied about Santa.
If you are Christian I'll say Merry Christmas. If you're an Atheist I'll say Happy Holidays. If you're Jewish I'll say Happy Hanukkah. If you're African American I'll say Happy Kwanzaa. It's time people stop being so sensitive about everything.
I look Jewish, but I'm Buddhist.
I look Buddhist, but (I)'m an illusion...:0)
Only when the holy rollers quit telling atheists they are going to hell.
Google "Heaven or Hell billboard" and look at the images..... Then tell me that it is only atheists that spouting their opinions or who aren't being positive. I'm an atheist who passed a billboard saying I was going to burn in fires of pain for eternity. Thanks for the positive message. I get far more preaching from Christians than I do from atheists.
No kidding.
There is no war on Christmas. There is however a push towards tolerance. Deal with it.
Jesus birth, probably when?
Perhaps the most obvious evidence of the incorrectness of the December 25 date is the Scriptural fact that shepherds were in the fields tending their flocks on the night of Jesus’ birth. (Lu 2:8, 12) Already by the autumn month of Bul (October-November) the rainy season was starting (De 11:14), and flocks were brought into protected shelters at night. The next month, Chislev (the ninth month of the Jewish calendar, November-December), was a month of cold and rain (Jer 36:22; Ezr 10:9, 13), and Tebeth (December-January) saw the lowest temperatures of the year, with occasional snows in the highlands area. The presence of shepherds in the fields at night therefore harmonizes with the evidence pointing to the early autumn month of Ethanim as the time of Jesus’ birth
JW's don't celebrate birthdays at all, let alone Jesus's designated day to celebrate His birth.
The early Christians,” notes The World Book Encyclopedia, “considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.
Did back far enough, and you will find all of the Judeo-Christian beliefs were once the sane beliefs of other ancient civilizations.
I an unimpressed by your version of Christianity, and yours is no more valid, nor more Scripturally based, than mine.
Merry Christmas. Oops.
The Bible does not give the date of Jesus’ birth, nor does it say that we should celebrate his birthday. As McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia states: “The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of NT [New Testament] origin.”
Yawn. Whatever.
Roots of christmas:
“The establishment of December 25 evolved not from biblical precedent,” says The Christmas Encyclopedia, “but from pagan Roman festivals held at year’s end,” about the time of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Those festivals included the Saturnalia, in honor of Saturn, god of agriculture, “and the combined festivals of two sun gods, the Roman Sol and the Persian Mithra,” says the same encyclopedia. Both birthdays were celebrated on December 25, the winter solstice according to the Julian calendar.
Those pagan festivals began to be “Christianized” in the year 350, when Pope Julius I declared December 25 to be Christ’s birthday. “The Nativity gradually absorbed or supplanted all other solstice rites,” says the Encyclopedia of Religion. “Solar imagery came increasingly to be used to portray the risen Christ (who was also called Sol Invictus), and the old solar disk . . . became the halo of Christian saints.”
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102010442
The Christmas Encyclopedia?
The Encyclopedia of Religion?
If you dont even believe in the Encyclopedia Britannica and Americana...you will believe in nothing else!
I honestly didn't even know Encyclopedia Britannica and Americana still existed.
But they also offered different viewpoints that the JW website neglected to mention.
And I think the Christmas Encyclopedia and Encyclopedia of Religion are made up.
Sorry, but I do appreciate JW and them not putting themselves before God, so not celebrating holidays or birthdays. It is a good idea. Peace and good luck.
Im not telling you not to celebrate it...its up to you to do so.
So...
Im not telling anyone not to celebrate christmas...im just point out facts.
JW's don't celebrate Christmas. They help Silverman's cause.
JW's don't believe in the Trinity, either.
and all with scripture background!
It doesn't matter. Everybody interprets the Scripture differently. You are engaging in a Christian spider fight.
Masada- Interpret your way. im not telling you not to celebrate it. But as for us, we wont!
All you're doing is strengthening the atheist position on Christmas...because you agree with it. Yay!!
Cranky- I don't agree with atheist and many Christians , but it doesn't mean that all the ideas are necessarily wrong in the biblical point of view. Like the bible doesn't back up Christmas and the celebration itself has backup on pagan origins.
Love this quote from a 1969 edition of JW's "Awake magazine" "Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15 – "If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. ... Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in highschool and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!"
"end in a few years"...Can you tell me a date? When are these "few years"?
If you think 44 years is "a few"...you clearly cannot believe what your own magazine puts out.
Cranky- in the bible NT the apostol Paul and others often talk about "the end has drawn near", or it's "near" though it never came until this day!
JW,
Many, many people went on to college in 1969 and have had quite long and complete careers. Your "prophets" were wrong (erm, not the first time, nor the last, either!)
People of faith who are activists have run out of arguments so all they do now is squawk about having their feelings hurt.
Grow up, put away childish things.
...and throw down the "persecution" card...buncha victims!
Ah yes, persecution. Last I checked every president of the USA has been a Christian. I'd love that kind of persecution. Persecution that says you can be president of the most powerful country on the planet.
Well, "Christian" in vote-acquiring name only...but yes, you make a funny point. At least Nero believed he was God as he fed his cats Christian kibble. But fire ZZtop wannabe Robertson and you'd think they're being thrown into the colosseum.
For atheists, it's a war on Jesus Christ, else they would have crossed out the word Christmas.
hearties,
There is NO WAR. Wake up!
Yes. So you have stated 8,463 times already.
Do you think Westboro Baptist represents all Christians? No? Then why do you think this group represents all atheists?
I doubt you'll have the courage to answer. You haven't yet, when asked.
One must ask why atheists cannot tolerate Christian's and their beliefs, but Christians must be forced by law to tolerate the suppression of these beliefs by the atheists?
There is a war on.
Such convenient and short historical memory, Christian. Perhaps you might look back and see how Christians, empowered by Constantine, emperors, kings, prime ministers and presidents have treated those who don't agree. But your small mind can only see it as an atheist-initiated event...so small, so sad.
LOL 'Forced by law'?? You mean the same christians obstructing anything that doesn't jibe with their worldview? The same christians trying over and over to pass laws like Prop 8 and DOMA? THOSE chrisitians?
Comedy gold.
This in no way addressed my question to hearties.
One must ask why you engage in the same generalizations.
Carl,
As an atheist, my answer to your question would be a couple of things. One, atheists/nontheistic citizens of the United States are vastly underrepresented in the public scope; Two, nontheists are the minority. Although recent polling insists that there are many nonreligious folk about, there is not yet enough voice to win any sort of elected office that I have seen. That leaves nonreligious people feeling disenfranchised and angry. Point two, if you're the minority, we ARE forced to tolerate Christianity on a daily basis and most people, myself included, do an excellent job of doing so. Christianity is the dominant view in America, nothing else – thus, you must tolerate those who believe differently.
Part of the reason that nonreligious peoples are making stinks (I don't approve of these billboards; in fact, I find them comical) is because of the negative associations that come with the term "atheism". For instance, I live in central Alabama – to be an atheist here is very difficult. You are judged morning and night by those who are supposed to not judge and oftentimes one is forced to keep their beliefs (or lack of them) under wraps for fear of losing a job or making a negative impression of themselves. It's not an easy scenario, but I 'm not complaining – this is the way things are.
I have excellent Christian friends and live a very fulfilling life in Alabama, serving my country that I love and fought for as well as my family. However, whenever good hearted, god fearing Christians describe my ilk as 'heathens' or tell my children that their father will burn in hell for his beliefs, that's where you start to quesiton just how the whole machien works.
Just my two cents.
Christians crack me up...their god (and their faith) is so weak that they think mere humans can "war against him."
Their version of god is so weak, he can be 'tossed out' of schools and courts.
Amen...The US Supreme Court and Madalyn Murray O'Hair are smarter, prettier, and more powerful than their god...pathetic!
the Judeo-Christian god is so weak that he lost a wrestling match to a guy named Jacob in Genesis.
Oh, yeahI I saw that on Pay-per-View...that was fun!